Thought for July 26, 2023

•  1903: Horatio Nelson Jackson, Sewall Crocker and Bud [a bulldog] complete the first automobile trip across the US, San Francisco to New York in 63+ days
• Born: George Bernard Shaw, Stanley Kubrick, Mick Jagger, Sandra Bullock, Jason Statham
• Died: William Jennings Bryan, Eva Peron, George Gallup

Thought:

Yesterday, we concluded Ephesians with Paul's command to pray in the Spirit. As I turned the page to Philippians today, I am reading 1:3-11. Paul ended his letter to Ephesus in prayer and begins his letter to Philippi in prayer. Perhaps that is an example for me--begin everything in prayer and end everything in prayer--pray without ceasing. 

Here is what I notice about Paul's prayer for the church at Philippi:

• The gospel centered lives of the church at Philippi gave Paul joy. [1:4-5]. A couple of things strike me--do I get joy from seeing others live gospel centered lives and does my life give joy to others? The answer to the first part of that question is generally yes--watching others participate in the gospel gives me joy. Watching lives mature in faith and works gives joy, encouragement and an example for my life. The second part of the question causes me to think about my life--does how I walk give joy to others? Does how I face trials and affliction give joy to others? Does my faith under pressure give joy to others? Lord, help he live a life that gives joy to those around me.
• 1:6 is a familiar verse that we all have claimed at one time or another for ourselves or for a friend. Think about this verse with me. Are you confident that Christ who has begun a good work will perfect His work in you? One of the enemy's weapons is to tell us we will never get it right so give up, quit. The enemy sees us fail and tells us that we can never live up to the calling in Christ--so compromise, get along, stop trying. Jesus tells us we are His workmanship--potter and clay. He keeps moulding and remaking us after His will. He keeps refining us till He can clearly see His reflection in our lives. The word "confident" is "with fidelity." All of us had a "hifi" when growing up--the record player reproduced the sound faithfully to the original as recorded. We heard the same music that we would hear if we heard the live performance. We are confident not because of our goodness or strength, but because of the One doing the moulding. 
• In 1:8-11, Paul tells us how God is perfecting us.
• As we love Jesus, He reveals Himself to us--we gain knowledge of Him--know Him. Paul will spell this out in 3:8-11---everything else is garbage compared to knowing Him.
• As Jesus reveals Himself, we can discern more of His will for our lives. 
• With discernment, we can love the things that are excellent--leading to blamelessness/purity.
• As we love the excellent things, we are filled with righteousness as we become more and more like Jesus. 
• Now our lives give joy to those around us.
• Our goal is to be like Jesus. As we grow more and more like Him, we give joy to those around us. And this gives us confidence for facing the future---we know that ultimately we will be perfect with Him in heaven. Paul says, "for the joy set before Him, He endured the cross." So for the joy set before us, we endure.

Blessings

Larry